Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Groundwater is a hidden resource, and for many years The
Groundwater Foundation offices were also hidden on the second floor of a
building with little signage. While groundwater
will always remain hidden, The Groundwater Foundation offices have become more
visible and accessible (we moved in January).
Our new location will make it easier for us to continue our mission of
helping others discover and understand the role of groundwater in their
lives.

As one of our longtime friends, we want you to come visit. Mark your calendars and plan to attend The
Groundwater Foundation Open House on Monday, May 19th from 5:00 to
7:00 p.m. In addition to seeing our new
place, you will learn more about groundwater, what we do, the programs we run,
and have the opportunity to meet our staff and Board members.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

By Heather Voorman, The Groundwater Foundation
April 25th is National Arbor Day, so what better
week to talk about why trees are so important for water quality!

Without trees and other vegetation such as shrubs and
grasses, all runoff would go into streams and lakes. Runoff often carries
pollutants and dissolved contaminants that can pollute surface water supplies. These
pollutants include fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, nutrients and bacteria
from concentrated livestock operations, oils, antifreeze, road salts, and
sediment from croplands, urban construction sites and eroding stream banks. Additionally,
when water runs off the land quickly instead of allowing some moisture to enter
the ground, groundwater supplies cannot recharge.

Strategically planted trees can help alleviate some of the
issues associated with runoff and improve water quality. The leaves and branches of a tree can catch rainfall,
slowing the movement of rain water. This allows time for the water to soak into
the ground and recharge groundwater supplies.The root growth and plant litter help this recharge process by improving
the soil structure and enhancing the infiltration of rainwater. The contaminants are also diminished during
the recharge process when they are immobilized and transformed by soil microbes
or taken up by the trees and other vegetation.

Image credit: acreage.unl.edu

To learn more about how to use trees to improve water
quality, take a look at this brochure produced by the USDA National Agroforestry Center or contact the Agroforestry Center at 402.437.5178 ext. 4011.

Monday, April 14, 2014

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is
once again offering residents a chance to get rid of their unwanted/expired
medications that have been piling up in their homes. This is the eighth
(8th) National Prescription Drug-Take Back Day.

On this day, collection sites throughout the
country will be accepting unneeded prescription drugs, including controlled
substances, for safe and legal disposal. The DEA coordinates this program
with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, which must be present
to accept controlled substances.

These Take-Back Days have been hugely
successful, collecting more than 3 million pounds (1,733 tons) of prescription
medications since 2010. Properly removing these medicines from homes
helps protect our communities by keeping these meds out of our water supply,
and reducing accidental poising and prescription drug abuse.

Be sure to check your local community for
temporary or permanent drop-off locations!

Friday, April 11, 2014

A new Groundwater Foundation program called Groundwater
Restoration: An Introduction to Environmental Engineering is bringing
groundwater education to Title I Elementary Schools! During these programs, 5th
grade students learn about groundwater, common sources of groundwater
pollution, and how important it is to protect and conserve groundwater!

The students work in groups to complete a three-part
activity:

1. Awesome Aquifers: What is Groundwater?

The program begins with an introduction to
groundwater through The Groundwater Foundation’s Awesome Aquifer kits. Students
create a model aquifer and learn about concepts like recharge, runoff, wells, the
water table, and surface water – groundwater connections.

2. Groundwater Pollution: Common Sources of
Pollution.

In the second part of the activity,
students pollute their aquifers while learning about common sources of
pollution. Common household items are used to represent the pollutants. For
example, baking soda represents pesticides and fertilizers.

Finally, students become engineers and work
together as a team to design, develop, and test their very own water filter!
Students can use a myriad of items including activated carbon, cotton balls,
and coffee filters in order to clean their polluted water. At the end of the
activity, the difficulties of cleaning water and the importance of protecting
and conserving groundwater are discussed.

This program has been made possible thanks to the Nebraska
Environmental Trust, Captain Planet Foundation, and most importantly by our
donors and supporters like you! Check out some photos of the students participating
in the activity below. If you have any questions about Groundwater Restoration:
An Introduction to Environmental Engineering or wish to learn more contact Amy
Kessner at 402-434-2740 ext. 105.